Have you ever experienced a sudden pain on your teeth and gum while having ice cream or delicious hot soup? If yes, chances are that you suffer from a condition called ‘tooth sensitivity’. According to the best orthodontist in Kolkata, it is a condition where one experiences a short sharp sensation in their mouth when coming in contact with hot or cold stimuli. It is also known as ‘dentin hypersensitivity.
Teeth sensitivity can be of various kinds; temporary or chronic. It can affect a single tooth or even multiple teeth. In rare cases, one person can have tooth sensitivity in every single tooth in their mouth.
Causes behind Tooth Sensitivity
The main reason behind sensitive teeth is thinning of the enamel. Enamel being the outer most layer of our tooth protects the nerves and dentine. Over time, due to various reasons when our enamel starts thinning, our dentine becomes exposed. There are thousands of microscopic channels that connect our dentine to the pulp. So when we eat something hot or cold, the sensation travels to the nerve very fast. This causes sharp pain. Causes of enamel thinning are
- Brushing teeth too hard
- Teeth grinding
- Over-consumption of acidic food
A few other causes for having sensitive teeth are gum recession and Gastroesophageal reflux or GERD. Gastroesophageal reflux is a disease that occurs when stomach acid tends flowing up the esophagus from our stomach. This acid can cause the thinning of the enamel. One must visit a Best dental doctor in Kolkata to know about ways to protect the teeth.
Treatment for sensitive teeth
If you are suffering from a mild case of tooth sensitivity, you can get away by changing your toothpaste. Buy one which has been specifically manufactured for sensitive teeth. Also, use alcohol-free mouth wash to avoid irritation inside the mouth.
You need to avoid using toothbrushes which have hard bristles. Brush your teeth gently applying low pressure to avoid wearing off of the enamel.
If you have sensitivity in one or two teeth instead of the majority of teeth, it is most likely caused by chipped or broken down teeth or even tooth decay. You should visit a multispeciality dental clinic to get it fixed as soon as possible.
You will be recommended to address these underlining problems. In the case of the cavity, one should get their tooth filled to cover up the exposed nerve. In case your teeth have started to decay, you would need to go for a root canal treatment in Kolkata.
If it is gum recession, one needs to get gum grafting where gum tissue would be taken from other parts of your mouth and attached to the affected parts.